To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Smithsonian gives in : Old Ephraim returns after 60 year in Washington (May 15, 1978)

SMITHSONIAN GIVES IN : OLD EPHRAIM TREUTRNS AFTER SIXTY YEAR [YEARS] IN WASHINGTON A helicopter landed in the center of the Quad and Senator Orrin Hatch delivered the skull of old Ephriam, a notor¬ious grizzly bear, to USU for dislay. The skull represents the last record of a grizzly in Utah, so it has scientific value and more than regional interest, according to a letter from the Smithsonian Institute. The skull is on a year by-year loan from the Smithsonian, where it had been stored for nearly 60 years. Old Ephriam [Ephraim] was shot in 1923 by Frank Clarke. He had been trying for more than twelve years to stop the grizzly from killing his sheep in Logan Canyon. It took several shots to kill the huge bear. With the help of another shepherd [sheepherder], Clarke skinned the grizzly, and burned and buried its remains in Logan Canyon near Steel Hollow. He said the hide weighed 200 pounds. The Smithsonian offered a $25 reward for the skull of Old Ephriam [Ephraim]. A group of boy scouts followed a map Clarke drew from them dug up the skull, and sent it to the insti¬tute. “It was a stinking mess,” said Dr. J. Clare Hayward, who was one of the scouts at the discovery of Old Ephri¬am’s grave. “But we dug up the skull and some of us took other bones for souvenirs [souvenirs]. I remember my mother threw my bone out about a year later.” He said few people believed the bear to be Old Ephriam [Ephraim], but the scouts wanted to try for the reward, so they sent it in anyway. The Smithsonian confirmed the bear to be a grizzly, weighing about 1,100 pounds and standing 9 feet, 11 inches on its hing [hind] legs. In 1977, a group of scouts visited the museum in Washington, D.C. to see the skull and discovered it was no longer on display. Attorney Lyle Hillyard, Cache Chamber of Commerce president, made efforts to bring the skull back to Logan for display. After several denials from the institute, and the help of Sen. Orrin Hatch, the skull was finally loaned to USU on a year by-year basis. The skull is presently in the care of Jeff Simmons, in the special collections section of the USU library. The display case and other items of display have not been completed yet. It has not been announced when the skull will be ready for display, but interested persons may see it anytime in the library. The display will include another grizzly skull because Old Ephriam’s [Ephraim’s] skull is badly damaged. A wood carving of how Old Ephriam [Ephraim] might have looked will also be on display. In August, 1966, Cache County boy scouts helped erect a 4½ ton granite stone on the grizzly’s grave. The stone is 9 feet, 11 inches tall in honor of Old Ephriam [Ephraim]. The skull is only on loan to the university for one year. If USU wants to keep it, it must renew the loan every year.

Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Libraries Special Collections and Archives, phone (435) 797-2663.

Digital Publisher

Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library

Transcript

SMITHSONIAN GIVES IN : OLD EPHRAIM TREUTRNS AFTER SIXTY YEAR [YEARS] IN WASHINGTON A helicopter landed in the center of the Quad and Senator Orrin Hatch delivered the skull of old Ephriam, a notor¬ious grizzly bear, to USU for dislay. The skull represents the last record of a grizzly in Utah, so it has scientific value and more than regional interest, according to a letter from the Smithsonian Institute. The skull is on a year by-year loan from the Smithsonian, where it had been stored for nearly 60 years. Old Ephriam [Ephraim] was shot in 1923 by Frank Clarke. He had been trying for more than twelve years to stop the grizzly from killing his sheep in Logan Canyon. It took several shots to kill the huge bear. With the help of another shepherd [sheepherder], Clarke skinned the grizzly, and burned and buried its remains in Logan Canyon near Steel Hollow. He said the hide weighed 200 pounds. The Smithsonian offered a $25 reward for the skull of Old Ephriam [Ephraim]. A group of boy scouts followed a map Clarke drew from them dug up the skull, and sent it to the insti¬tute. “It was a stinking mess,” said Dr. J. Clare Hayward, who was one of the scouts at the discovery of Old Ephri¬am’s grave. “But we dug up the skull and some of us took other bones for souvenirs [souvenirs]. I remember my mother threw my bone out about a year later.” He said few people believed the bear to be Old Ephriam [Ephraim], but the scouts wanted to try for the reward, so they sent it in anyway. The Smithsonian confirmed the bear to be a grizzly, weighing about 1,100 pounds and standing 9 feet, 11 inches on its hing [hind] legs. In 1977, a group of scouts visited the museum in Washington, D.C. to see the skull and discovered it was no longer on display. Attorney Lyle Hillyard, Cache Chamber of Commerce president, made efforts to bring the skull back to Logan for display. After several denials from the institute, and the help of Sen. Orrin Hatch, the skull was finally loaned to USU on a year by-year basis. The skull is presently in the care of Jeff Simmons, in the special collections section of the USU library. The display case and other items of display have not been completed yet. It has not been announced when the skull will be ready for display, but interested persons may see it anytime in the library. The display will include another grizzly skull because Old Ephriam’s [Ephraim’s] skull is badly damaged. A wood carving of how Old Ephriam [Ephraim] might have looked will also be on display. In August, 1966, Cache County boy scouts helped erect a 4½ ton granite stone on the grizzly’s grave. The stone is 9 feet, 11 inches tall in honor of Old Ephriam [Ephraim]. The skull is only on loan to the university for one year. If USU wants to keep it, it must renew the loan every year.